NATIONALS QUICK WRAP
Score: Marlins 8, Nationals 0
Recap: This one was over quickly. A three-run homer by former Nats slugger Michael Morse began a Marlins onslaught in the first against right-hander Jordan Zimmermann. In the second, Marlins left fielder Christian Yelich added a two-run triple and right fielder Giancarlo Stanton followed with a titanic two-run homer. All told, Zimmermann gave up eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits with four strikeouts and no walks.
Need to know: A double by...
JUPITER, Fla. - Aside from starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, it's quite possible the Nationals are fielding their opening day lineup against the Marlins today at Roger Dean Stadium.
Center fielder Michael A. Taylor certainly figured to be one to watch at the start of spring training, but the 23-year-old was thrust into the spotlight when Denard Span went down with core muscle surgery. Not only does Taylor's speed and athletic ability fill Span's void in center field, but he's also shown...
JUPITER, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams announced this morning that third baseman Anthony Rendon will begin the season on the disabled list. The news comes on the heels of Rendon's trip to Vail, Colo., yesterday for a third opinion on his ailing left knee. Dr. Steven Singleton concurred with Dr. James Andrews on a sprained left MCL for Rendon, the same diagnosis originally made three weeks ago when the injury occurred.
"It's an injury that's kind of (a) week-to-week type injury,"...
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals made a pair of roster moves this morning, releasing veteran utility man Kevin Frandsen and reassigning outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. to minor league camp.
The 32-year-old Frandsen was signed as a free agent last March 26, a day after he was released by the Phillies, and hit .259 with a homer and 17 RBIs in his lone season with the Nats. He played four positions - first base, second base, third base and left field - and quickly became a popular member of a veteran...
VIERA, Fla. - Tuesday stood to be an awkward day for new Nationals outfielder Matt den Dekker. Less than 24 hours after the Mets traded him to the Nats, he would be suiting up in Space Coast Stadium to play against his former team.
"It's a little strange," admitted den Dekker.
It helped den Dekker to see some familiar faces when he showed up in the Nats clubhouse early yesterday morning. Den Dekker, 27, and Nats outfielder Michael A. Taylor both attended the Winchester Academy and in Fort...
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals left Space Coast Stadium quietly in their final Grapefruit league home game.
Mets starter Jonathon Niese and three other relievers combined to shut out the Nats 2-0 while only allowing six hits.
Left-hander Gio Gonzalez turned in his third straight strong start for the Nationals, giving up two runs on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
"I felt great," Gonzalez said. "The only thing I was kind of upset about was the walk, but even on the...
The Orioles have announced the return of the fan-favorite AT&T Fans' Choice Bobblehead promotion for 2015. Fans will once again be able to select the player they want to be immortalized in a bobblehead giveaway, scheduled to be distributed during Fan Appreciation Weekend on Sunday, October 4 to the first 25,000 fans age 15 and over.
Fans can vote for any of five players who have never been featured as an Orioles bobblehead: left-hander Zach Britton, left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, right-hander...
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP
Score: Mets 2, Nationals 0
Recap: Left-hander Gio Gonzalez allowed two runs on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. He also gave up his first home run of the spring, a solo shot by Mets right fielder John Mayberry Jr. Mets pitching, led by starter Jon Niese, shut out the Nats, who were only able to collect six hits on the day.
Need to know: Mets lefty Jerry Blevins returned to Space Coast Stadium for three pitches, all strikes, against Bryce Harper...
VIERA, Fla. - Less than a day after being traded by the Mets, outfielder Matt den Dekker is in uniform against his former team. den Dekker isn't in the Nationals' starting lineup, but he does figure to get an at-bat or two and play in the field.
"It's been a whirlwind of emotions and excitement to be over here," den Dekker said. "It's a great opportunity. I'm excited for it."
den Dekker hit .256 with a homer, four doubles, a triple and seven RBIs in 22 Grapefruit League games with the...
VIERA, Fla. - After visiting orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews on Monday for a second opinion on his ailing left knee, Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon will now head to Vail, Colo., for a third diagnosis from Dr. Steve Singleton.
"Every player has the option to go see somebody that they want to see, too, so we sent him to Andrews for the second (opinion)," said Nationals manager Matt Williams. "He's going to see Dr. Singleton today in Vail to get his thoughts, as well. We're just...
VIERA, Fla. - Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth, who is recovering from right shoulder surgery, finally was able to take his first at-bats against live pitching when he participated in a minor league game yesterday. He doubled, walked and drove in a run on a grounder to short in his three plate appearances.
"I felt like it was the first game of spring training," said Werth. "So if I had a month left, I'd be right where I needed to be. But I got six days, five now. We're gonna do all the...
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals lost a valuable member of their bullpen yesterday when left-hander Jerry Blevins was traded to the Mets for outfield Matt den Dekker.
Blevins was shaky for most of last season, as well as this spring, but nobody can argue what he provided for the Nats down the stretch a year ago - and especially in the National League Division Series. Blevins inherited runners all over the bases and was unhittable, pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings in critical situations during the...
JUPITER, Fla. - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo had an active day as he sat a few rows from the field next to the third base dugout at Roger Dean Stadium.
In the sixth inning, he watched closer Drew Storen prematurely leave the game with a blister on his right big toe after facing four batters. That was after Rizzo had already found out news that right-hander Casey Janssen's MRI showed rotator cuff inflammation in his throwing shoulder.
"I don't see either one of them as serious...
JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals' injury issues continued in the sixth inning of today's 6-2 loss to the Cardinals. Right-hander Drew Storen came on to pitch the sixth inning in what was just his third Grapefruit League appearance. After Storen faced only four batters, the Nats' trainer came to the mound to check on the pitcher.
The Nats closer immediately left the field and headed straight to the clubhouse with what manager Matt Williams is calling an aggravation of a blister on Storen's...
JUPITER, Fla. - With the Nationals' outfield situation so uncertain and opening day just a week away, the club made a move to strengthen that area this afternoon, acquiring Matt den Dekker from the Mets for left-hander Jerry Blevins.
den Dekker, 27, played all 80 of his major league games over the last two seasons with the Mets. He's a career .238/.325/.310 hitter with 12 doubles, one home run, 11 steals and 13 RBIs. In 175 plate appearances last season, den Dekker hit .250 with a .345...
The Washington Nationals acquired outfielder Matt den Dekker from the New York Mets on Monday in exchange for left-hander Jerry Blevins. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
den Dekker, 27, joins the Nationals after spending parts of the last two seasons with the Mets. In 80 career Major League games, den Dekker is a career .238 hitter with a .325 on-base percentage and a .310 slugging percentage. He's hit 12 doubles, one home run, stolen 11...
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP
Score: Cardinals 6, Nats 2
Recap: Nationals starter Taylor Jordan allowed two runs, one earned, on one hit with three walks in four innings today. Nats third baseman Ian Stewart doubled in the second inning and scored the game's first run shortly after on an errant throw. The Nats picked up their second run when second baseman Dan Uggla doubled in the third inning. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman singled in Uggla.
Need to know: Right-hander Drew Storen left the game with the...
The Orioles today announced that they have reassigned catcher J.P. Arencibia to minor league camp.
With this move, the Orioles now have 36 players at Major League Spring Training, including four non-roster invitees.
JUPITER, Fla. - First baseman Ryan Zimmerman is back in the Nationals lineup after banging his left shoulder during a diving stop in the first inning of Friday's loss to the Cardinals. It's a good sign for the Nationals, who have suffered a rash of injuries this spring.
With just five spring games left before opening day, today's lineup features a quartet of non-roster invitees still fighting to earn a trip back to Washington: second baseman Dan Uggla, right fielder Clint Robinson, third...
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals have traded catcher Sandy Leon to the Red Sox.
What the Nationals may receive in exchange for the 26-year-old catcher is unknown, but Leon was out of options and wasn't going to crack the 25-man opening day roster. The Nats have Wilson Ramos and Jose Lobaton behind the plate and a host of young catching prospects in the pipeline.
On his Twitter account, Leon this morning began retweeting messages of thanks and encouragement from Nats fans after news of the trade...